Chapter 244: Remnants of the Dao Morality Sect

The entire Spirit Resonance Assembly fell into sudden silence.

Everyone stared at Lu Yan, who stood high in the sky. They could clearly sense that his cultivation was only at the Foundation Establishment stage.

Yet the red-robed youth from the Red Lotus Devil Sect—a formidable mid-stage Core Formation cultivator—had been crushed in a single strike without even the chance to resist.

That transcendent bearing with which Lu Yan moved, as if a casual wave of his hand could shatter all laws, inspired a deep and instinctive reverence in all who saw.

At the boundary of the cave-heaven world, Senior Brother Wu stared up at Lu Yan in utter disbelief, unable to fathom that this person shared the same cultivation stage as himself.

After a brief daze, a chill of fear surged through his heart. Just moments ago, he had been contemplating whether to apprehend Lu Yan and send him to the Spirit Prison for interrogation.

Thank the heavens he had been hesitant to act due to Lu Yan’s extraordinary demeanor.

Had he made the wrong decision, a person capable of defeating a Core Formation cultivator with a flick of the finger could have crushed him like an ant.

Behind Senior Brother Wu, the four who had clamored to detain Lu Yan as a spy were already pale and trembling uncontrollably.

Wu shot them a cold glance and snorted.

“I told you to stop playing tyrant with scraps of authority. Now you’ve kicked an iron wall.”

The yellow-robed cultivators turned to Wu, lips moving wordlessly, unsure how to speak.

“Fortunately for you, someone like him probably won’t waste time on us small fry, as long as he wasn’t offended too deeply.

Still, you’d better change your ways. This time you ran into someone broad-minded. Next time, you might not be so lucky.”

The four let out a collective sigh of relief and respectfully bowed.

“We will heed Senior Brother Wu’s guidance!”

Wu swept a glance across them, noting their relieved expressions devoid of true remorse. He shook his head imperceptibly and silently resolved to request reassignment to a different patrol team upon returning to the sect.

“Brother Lu!”

He Dongsheng’s voice trembled with joy as he looked at Lu Yan standing before him.

“I thought you hadn’t entered the Collapse Domain. I never expected you to come!”

“I was delayed by some matters, so I’ve only just arrived at the cave-heaven,” Lu Yan replied, his expression softening as he turned to look at He Dongsheng.

But just then, several streaks of divine light rose from one of the floating islands above, interrupting their reunion with voices full of fury.

“Who dares disrupt the Spirit Resonance Assembly?! Identify yourself!”

Several cultivators in red robes embroidered with lotus flames descended—each one a Core Formation True Person of the Red Lotus Devil Sect.

Their leader, Xu Hao, was already in the late Core Formation stage. The purple sash at his waist marked him as a True Disciple of the Devil Sect. Without reservation, he released a powerful spiritual pressure toward Lu Yan.

Lu Yan’s ability to defeat the red-robed youth with ease—whether it came from some divine power or an extraordinary artifact—was proof of terrifying strength.

Under such circumstances, it would be foolish to resort to force immediately. Xu Hao skillfully shifted the accusation from assaulting his junior brother to the broader crime of disrupting the Spirit Resonance Assembly.

Such a charge, regardless of Lu Yan’s background, would cast a long shadow.

Lu Yan glanced at him, replying coolly, “Taiyi Sect. Lu Yan.”

Xu Hao’s expression froze.

Though this was his first time meeting Lu Yan, the name was already well known.

The thirty-third True Disciple of the Taiyi Sect, a Foundation Establishment cultivator who defeated more than ten Core Formation prodigies in the True Inheritor Competition—his fame had spread across all the sects.

He Dongsheng might be a questionable True Disciple, but Lu Yan’s credentials were indisputable.

Still, Xu Hao quickly recovered, sneering coldly.

“Taiyi Sect’s thirty-third True Disciple? If I recall, you disappeared after entering the Collapse Domain and have yet to report to the True Inheritor Hall.

Without having joined the True Inheritor Hall, you’re just a member of Taiyi Sect—not a true inheritor of our United Immortals Alliance.

Do you expect to throw your weight around based solely on your title?”

Before Lu Yan could reply, He Dongsheng stepped forward.

“It was your Red Lotus junior who first launched a covert attack using the Karma Entanglement Divine Power. Brother Lu merely defended me. The ones who truly disrupted the assembly were from your Devil Sect!”

Xu Hao knew the inside story well. Targeting He Dongsheng had been a scheme jointly approved by not just their own Devil Sect but also the other six devil sects and the orthodox Daoist factions.

But that couldn’t be made public. In a world as dangerous as the Collapse Domain, the United Immortals Alliance needed unity. Exposing such internal strife would only undermine their strength.

“Do you have proof he used that divine power?” Xu Hao asked sharply.

He Dongsheng fell silent. The Karma Entanglement Divine Power was infamous for its subtlety. If hidden deliberately, even the victim might not realize it until it was too late—and once dissipated, it left no trace.

Seeing He Dongsheng unable to reply, Xu Hao relaxed slightly and said with a gentler tone, “I see this as a misunderstanding. Let’s let it go.”

Though Xu Hao was late Core Formation, Lu Yan had proven his ability to overpower Core Formation elites. Xu Hao’s tough talk followed by an olive branch was a typical move to defuse the situation without looking weak.

He Dongsheng looked conflicted. He knew Lu Yan had already helped him immensely, and he didn’t want to drag Lu Yan into more conflict.

But Lu Yan suddenly said, “You want proof?”

Xu Hao’s face darkened. He lowered his voice. “He Dongsheng’s status was irregular to begin with. Are you truly going to make an enemy of our Red Lotus Devil Sect over this?”

He Dongsheng quickly tugged Lu Yan’s sleeve.

“This all started because I’m unworthy of the True Disciple position. I shouldn’t have dragged you into this. The Red Lotus Devil Sect is powerful. Let’s just drop it.”

Lu Yan looked at He Dongsheng’s worried expression and sighed.

“He Dongsheng, you still don’t understand.

Constant retreat doesn’t lead to peace. If you back down today, someone else will trample you tomorrow.”

By the rules, He Dongsheng indeed didn’t deserve his status. But that was irrelevant to Lu Yan.

He was never one to blindly follow rules.

He Dongsheng had helped him many times, even passing on Zhao Huowang’s final words. Lu Yan owed him a debt.

Rules?

They were just tools the strong used to bind the weak.

If rules really mattered, then when Daoist Bitter Path questioned the Tenth True Disciple of the Taiyi Sect, he wouldn’t have been exiled from the sect.

What the Red Lotus Sect was doing—snatching prestige and then crying about rules when exposed—was laughable.

Coincidentally, Lu Yan needed to complete his deal with the Collapse Heaven’s Dao. Gaining influence in the alliance would be essential.

This was the perfect time to establish his own rules.

Lu Yan gently placed his right hand on He Dongsheng’s shoulder. In the next moment, crimson-gold flames enveloped He Dongsheng’s body.

Wisps of blood-red smoke burned within the fire—residual traces of the Karma Entanglement Divine Power.

Only the purest virtue energy could detect such subtle karmic residue.

“What is that?”

“Is it really the Karma Entanglement Divine Power?”

Murmurs spread among the crowd, but the Red Lotus Devil Sect’s disciples weren’t focused on that.

They had all fixed their eyes on the color of Lu Yan’s flame.

“The Xuanhuang Virtue Fire!”

Their pupils contracted.

Then, the True Disciple of the Devil Sect sneered coldly.

“So this is the great thirty-third True Disciple of Taiyi Sect? Turns out you’re a remnant of the Dao Morality Sect.”

As his words rang out, streams of divine light descended from the Red Lotus Devil Sect’s floating island.

“Remnant of the Dao Morality Sect!”

“I knew Taiyi Sect’s recruiting standards had fallen, but to take in a Dao Morality Sect leftover and make him a True Disciple? That’s a joke.”

“A heretic dares provoke our Red Lotus Devil Sect? Have we been quiet for too long?”

The descending cultivators were all late-stage Core Formation, some even at the peak. All were True Disciples of the Red Lotus Devil Sect.

From other islands, many cultivators turned their attention toward the spectacle.

Inside the Taiyi Sect’s True Inheritor Hall on their island, Lin Xiao, a peak Core Formation cultivator, looked toward the head seat.

Seated there was the twenty-fifth True Disciple of Taiyi Sect—an old master who had reached the Nascent Soul stage and served as the sect’s anchor in the Collapse Domain.

But the twenty-fifth True Disciple was nearing the end of his lifespan, soon to lose his True Disciple position.

“Everyone here agreed to suppress He Dongsheng earlier. But now the Devil Sect is humiliating our Taiyi Sect’s rising star. Shouldn’t we respond?” Lin Xiao asked.

The elder cracked open an eyelid and replied coldly.

“The feud between the Dao Morality Sect and the Red Lotus Devil Sect is known to all sects. If we intervene rashly, it could start a war. Neither you nor I have the right to interfere.”

He closed his eyes again, as if entering deep meditation.

In the sky above, a tide of demonic energy surged as the Devil Sect disciples attacked in unison.

They were well aware of Lu Yan’s power and showed no arrogance despite his cultivation. They struck with everything they had.

Karma-infused demonic power roared like a sea of blood, threatening to stain the heavens.

Karmic Divine Power—Blood Sea of Oblivion!

Within that sea, three ghostly divine techniques descended like thunderbolts:

The first—like a bloody claw—drained all life and spirit from its path.

The second—formed of ten thousand wailing souls—reeked of corruption and hatred.

The third—pure black—seemed to pull the world into endless darkness.

The countless Foundation Establishment cultivators on the ground stared at the changing skies, their hearts chilled by the looming destruction.

And yet, high above, only Lu Yan remained serene.

Within his Supreme Dao Foundation, the Gate of Mystery Womb quivered. A single thought could summon it forth to suppress all techniques.

But for now, it was suppressing the Annihilation Rule, so Lu Yan could not use it lightly.

After a moment’s thought, Lu Yan had a plan.

Three overlapping domains bloomed from around him—

Energy Tide, Spirit Sealing, Spell Nullification.

These domains were forged from supreme divine seed powers, modeled after the Hunter-Killer Module of a satellite-class war fortress.

Though Lu Yan couldn’t unleash the full might of the fortress, these domains were more than enough to counter Core Formation opponents.

The Devil Sect disciples paled as their divine techniques vanished like illusions before reaching Lu Yan.

Their mana was forcibly drawn out, and not a trace of spiritual energy could be found in the air. They were left relying solely on their own reserves to cast spells.

“What sorcery is this?!”

No one answered. Lu Yan merely raised his hand.

The clouds above gathered into a colossal handprint. In its palm, Yin and Yang energies spun like a millstone—modeled after the Annihilation Rule.

Though it held only a trace of that rule’s power, it made the entire world tremble.

The skies darkened. Deep cracks split the earth—signs of the cave-heaven’s response to the power of annihilation.

Then, the palm fell.

Boom!

The sea of blood boiled and evaporated. The three ghostly divine attacks were shattered by overwhelming force.

A deep, voiceless tremor echoed across the world—as if something in the void had broken.

The Devil Sect disciples were all hurled away. Robes torn, blood raining, eyes filled with disbelief.

They had five peak Core Formation disciples—yet all were defeated in a single blow.

Lu Yan’s face remained calm as he raised his finger again. A fresh wave of annihilation surged.

Xu Hao’s eyes widened in terror—Lu Yan’s next target was him.

Just then, a divine talisman descended from another island, transforming into a mountain-shaped barrier to shield him.

A solemn voice echoed:

“In the United Immortals Alliance, True Disciples are forbidden from killing each other!”

Lu Yan didn’t flinch.

Red Lotus Devil Sect? United Immortals Alliance?

If they dared strike, they should be ready to die.

Besides, as Jiang Zhiwei once said, the moment he cultivated the Red Lotus Karma Flame Scripture, he became food for the Karma Immortals. He and the Devil Sect were natural enemies.

The finger containing a hint of the Annihilation Rule descended.

The mountain-shaped barrier shattered.

Lu Yan’s finger pierced Xu Hao’s forehead, erasing his soul and Core Formation instantly.

Only a hollow shell fell from the sky.

Then, Lu Yan turned toward the next Devil Sect disciple.

His voice rang cold and clear:

“You’re next.”

(End of Chapter)